Indicator for mail boxes



July 14, 1931. A. LUTZ 1,814,941

INDICATOR FOR MAIL BOXES Filed May 27, 1930 Alvin Zzziz Patented July 14, 1931 ALYIN;I1.UTZ; r I EDINBIIBG, VIRGINIA.

mnises i Q MAIL B at Application filed May 27 y prfi ll n e tionhas reference to a .ing or non-signaling positions.

A still further object is the provision of a signaling device for this purpose that shallembody the-desirable features of simplicity in constructioncoupled with ease and accuracy in operation.

To the attainment of the foregoing the invention consists in the improvement hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

* In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the im-. provement in applied position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof with the top of the mail box in section.

FigureB is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 4 is an end view thereof with the signal in signaling position.

Figure 5 is a sectional view approximately on the line55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is anend view of the signal in non-signaling position.

As the description progresses it will be noted that my improvement may be readily attached to any ordinary rural mail box constructionand obviously the signal may be made in various sizes. In the drawings the numeral 1 designates an ordinary construction of rural mail boxes. To the top of this box I secure the base plate 2 of a substantially U-shaped bracket. The securing means are preferably in the nature of bolts having nuts screwed thereon and between the nuts and heads of the bolts there are spring washers, the outer washers contacting with the base plate of the bracket 2. The bracket is arranged longitudinally on the top of the box 1. One of the angle ends of the U-shaped bracket is for distinction indicated by the numeral 3 and the second end is indicated by the numeral 4. The arm 4 projects a suitable distance beyond the arm 3, but both 1930. Serial No. 455,157.

of the arms, have alining round openings therethrough forthe reception of-a shaft 5-. Theshaft isof a desired length and has. ar ranged around one of its endsa coil spring 6 which contacts with the. outer face; of the end 33: of the, bracket. The. second end of the springcontacts with; a-COjtter pin or like elementth-at; is, passed through. the shaft. The. springGinflriences. the shaft 5; longid n ly hro gh th op nings n thet ncls 3 313C124: of the bracket2, c using he ffse or angle end 8 of thesaid shaft,-to, be. brought against the nterface Qf.the,-I1Cl:4;:0f the bracket; The en ,d,;8.,is rounded; outwardly and-mer es into a depending portion tlmi rds he h a nger? grinv a. an le I V Y The. top of: the-end or; side 4 of the. Ll; shaped bracket 2 is widened and lras its top. Part es, swe as s g nd its et e 101i flanged outwardly at predetermined interale he a d. ee-s m ngpt r ed e between Withnotches, the top notch being indicated for distinction bythe nu oeral-lOl and thelowenor end notches thenuineral 75.. 11.; Preferably the fianges formed upon the top of the. endt of the U-shaped bracket are, cut angularly from the notches 11 to. their juncture withthe end 4 21s indicated by the nuin-eral13 in, the drawings. i

signal in the nature of a metal plate 14 and as a matter-of-fact the elementshereltofore described arealgl of metal. The plate lghas. one end rounded upon itself to. form the sarnewith a barrel 15 that receives the s5- shaft 5therethroughand an elementsuch as a,cotter pin16 holds the barrel and conse-. quently. the. plate 14 in one. position on the. shaft. The projecting. ends of the rounded portion, ofthe platev which I have termed thebarrel are secured to the plate proper by means lj'i'such as bolts engaged bynuts. The es: 1 the i nal new. re ang r opposite. directicns. as, indicated 7 by the. mine a 1 5 7 The. signal 14L. and its oppositely directed sides or flanges 18 are suitably,covered with a weather.resistingpaintof a colonwhich renders, the signal; conspicuous. The. ope. positelydirected fiangeslS offthe plate 15 10m preferably have their edges cut angularly from their ends to points adjacent their center. The spring 6 is of a sufficient strength to hold the offset end of the shaft 5 in the upper notch 10 or in either of the lower notches l1 and as the end 8 contacts with the side walis provic ed by these notches as well as rests upon the upper faces of the lower flanges, indicated for distinction by the numeral 19, the signal cannot be accidentally swung to either signaling or non-signaling position regardless of the velocity of wind which contacts with the said signal. It is merely necessary to grasp the handle 9 to move the shaft 5 longitudinally to bring the end 8 thereof out of say the notch 10 when the signal is in signaling position and to turn the shaft to bring the said ofiset end 8 into either of the notches 11 to bring the signal to non-signaling position.

The construction is simple and will not be affected by weather conditions. The device can be easily and quickly attached to any ordinary rural mail box and may be readily and quickly swung to either signaling or non-signaling position or positively retained in either of such positions.

It is thought from the foregoing that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent. I desire it to be understood that I may make such changes in the construction and arrangement of parts as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A signal for rural mail boxes, comprising a substantially U-shaped bracket fixed on the box, a shaft swingable and longitudinally movable through the arms of the bracket, one arm of the bracket having upper central and lower side notches there in, the shaft having an offset portion to be received in either of such notches and to be held therein by a spring, a handle on the said end of the shaft and a signal plate fixed on the shaft between the arms of the bracket.

2. A signal for rural mail boxes and the ably fixed on the box, a shaft revoluble and longitudinally movable'through the ends of the bracket, spring means on the shaft for influencing the same in one direction, one end of the bracket being widened and formed with notched lower side flanges and a notched upper flange, said shaft having an offset portlon ClGSl 'DGCl to be received 1n any of the notches and to be sustained therein by.

the influence of the spring, the offset portion of the shaft merging in to a handle and a signal plate fixed on the shaft between the ends of the bracket.

3. A signal for rural mail boxes and the like comprising a U-shaped bracket removably fixed on the box, a shaft revoluble and like comprising a U-shaped bracket removlongitudinally movable through the ends of the bracket, spring means on the shaft for influencing the same in one direction, one end of the bracket being widened and formed with notched lower side flanges and a notched upper flange, said shaft having an ofi set portion designed to be received in any of the notches and to be sustained therein by the influence of the spring, the offset portion of the shaft merging into a handle, a signal plate fixed on the shaft between the ends of the bracket, said signal plate having a lower barrel end through which the shaft passes, a securing element passing through the barrel for the shaft and said plate having its edges formed with oppositely directed flanges.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 

